Handling of rod bundles or similar annuli



June 30, 1953 R. w. YOUNG ET AL 7 2,643,756

HANDLING OF ROD BUNDLES OR SIMILAR ANNULI Filed April 21, 1949 v 3 Sheets-Sheet l IN V EN TORS RICHARD W. YOUNG ROGER Kmmcurr, JR.

ATTORNE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 21 1949 R Mm J Y 0 N E TUT N O R w M m N E wm m o w R ME c mm June 30, 1953 R. w. YOUNG ETAL 2,643,756

HANDLING OF ROD BUNDLES OR SIMILAR ANNULI Filed April 21, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 RICHARD W. YOUNG ROGER KINNICUTT, JR.

Patented June 30, 1953 UNITED STATES 7 HANDLING OF BOD BUNDLES R SIMILAR ANNULI Application April 21, 1949, Serial No. 88,712

14: Claims. (Cl. 19825) This invention relates to the handling of rod bundles or similar annuli, and more particularly to the transfer of annular bundles of rolled metal rod or the like from one conveyor to another.

In rod rolling mills it is the practice to coil the rods while they are at a red heat into annular bundles which are carried along with their axes substantially vertical on a so-called .coil conveyor. This conveyor includes an endless chain having projecting dogs which engage the rod bundles and bring about the desired movement thereof. From the coil conveyor the bundles are transferred, while still hot, to a hook carrier which comprises a series of suspended hooks upon which the bundles are hung with their axes substantially horizontal.

The prior apparatus best adapted for this purpose, so far as we are aware, is that disclosed in the United States patent to Young et al. No. 2,199,061, granted April 30, 1940. While this patented mechanism operates with considerable satisiaction, it is nevertheless subject on occasion to certain disadvantages, particularly when handling bundles which are high in proportion to their diameter. For example, as each bundle reaches the end of the coil conveyor and tips downwardly, there is in some cases insuffioient support for the upper convolutions of the bundle, and these convolutions tend to slide forwardly and to become disarranged, so that the hook may not always pass through them in a proper manner. In some plants this has made it necessary to provide an extra operator, whose duty it is to watch each bundle as it leaves the conveyor'and to replace any disarranged convolutions. Furthermore, with the prior mechanism the bundles are required to drop slightly onto the hooks, and this sometimes jars the bundles enough to distort them into elliptical shapes, which is highly undesirable.

t is accordingly one object of the invention to provide a dependable and efiicient apparatus for handling rod bundles or the like at the discharge end of a conveyor.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a thoroughly reliable and comparatively simple apparatus for transferring rod bundles or the like from a coil conveyor to a hook carrier. 1 It is a further object of the invention to provide a simple and dependable apparatus arranged to transfer rod bundles or the like from a' coil conveyor to a hook carrier without disarranging the convolutions of the bundle or otherwise dam aging the same. With these and other objects in view, asiwill after.

OFFICE be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention resides in the combination of parts set forth in the specification and covered by the claims appended hereto.

Referring to the drawings illustrating one embodiment of the invention and in which like reference numerals indicate like parts,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an apparatus for handling rod bundles, the view being shown partially in section as taken approximately on the line l--l of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; and

Figs. 5 to 10 inclusive are a series of diagram matic sectional views showing the successive positions of the parts as they transfer a bundle, Fig. 10 being taken approximately on the line 19-40 of Fig. 1, and Figs. 5 to'9 inclusive being taken on the same line but with the parts in difierent positions.

The embodiment illustrated comprises a coil conveyor [5 comprising a fiat substantially horizontal plate structure it having a central longitudinally extending slot ll therein. A series of dogs 19 and 28 project upwardly through the slot I! from an endless chain 2| which passes downwardly around a sprocket wheel 23 mounted on a transverse horizontal shaft 2d adjacent the discharge .end of the conveyor.- The dogs I9, which may be called pulling dogs, alternate with the dogs 20. The annular coils or bundles of rod are supported upon the plate structure It with the axes of the bundles upright and with the dogs is extending into the interiors of the bundles, so that as these dogs move forwardly they will engage the bundles and pull them along the plate structure IS. The dogs 20, which may be called pusher dogs, are located between successive bundles, and they come into use only as the pulling dogs I9 pass downwardlyv around the sprocket wheel 23, as will be explained herein- Adjacent the discharge endof the coil conveyor 15 there is provided a hook carrier 26 comprising an overhead horizontal rail 21 of I cross section (Fig. 2) and a series of brackets 28 having wheels 29 thereon engaging the lower flange of the rail, each bracket carrying a depending forwardly directed'hook 3!. The brackets 28 are all connected to an endless chain 32 which travels about a large horizontal sprocket wheel 33 mounted on a vertical shaft 35. As shown in Fig. 1, the sprocket wheel 33 is so located that as the hooks 3| pass around this wheel they will enter a groove 36 formed in the upper surface of the plate structure Hi. The entrance portion 31 of this erb ve curved substantially concentrically with the wheel '33, and this curved portion leads to a straight tangential portion 38 which is close to the slot H and parallel there'- with. The tangential portion 38 leads directly into one end of a slot 39 which is aligned with the portion 38 and extends forwardly beyond the slot ll. a

The coil conveyor 45 and jthehobkjciarrier 2i; are driven in a fixed speed relationship such that for each bundle delivered by the conveyor chain 2| to the discharge end of the "conveyor, =a hook 3| will arrive at the proper time to receive such bundle. Preferably the linear speeds of the chain 21 and of the hooks 3! are substantially the and a'e'drdingly the spaei'ng or succespulling "does is alongthe chain 21 is substaritiauy *equaito the spacihgbi successive hooks 3| along the chain 32. The sprocket 2 3 airs fist fare unveil reama s arce of sewer, such as electric "motor '4'] "(Fig 1) This motor fdriv''s "a shaft 42 carrying "a bevel pinion fljwhich drives a'be'v'el g'ear dfi tin-a "shaft 4 travel without interference, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. At each side of the wheel l there is mounted a stationary plate Tl. These plates form continuations of the conveyor plate I6 and they are curved downwardly and forwardly in a circular arc coaxial with the wheel 1-6 to provide a convex cylindrical surface on which the lateral portions of the bundles may rest as they are cariied around by the wheel. An upstanding wall 19 is provided on the conveyor plate 16 near the discharge end of the conveyor and on the opposite side of the slot 17 from the groove 36. This "walljis inclined in such a way as to deflect each bundle laterally into approximate alignment with the slot 39, as best shown in Fig. 1.

In the operation of the invention the bundles will he moves along the conveyor by the pulling'dogs 19, each of which will project upwardly within the interior of the bundle, as shown in the case of the bundle B3 in Figs. '7, f3 and 9. each bundle ama'roaches "the discharge end of th'e dq'l'i'lfybl 15, 'it will-engage the inclined wan T9 and thereby be deflected "slightly to one s'ide into better alignment-with the slot 39. At 'the same time one-of the hooks *3! will travel in an 'ar'cua'te -p'atha1ong the groove es, and the front;

' enir-bfthe hook*willpassbeneath'the rearportion iifives a gear 49 *o'n a shaft-5t. The shaft so carries a pinion 5l which drives 'a-"gfear 52 on a "shaft 53, "the latter beirigfc'oiijpled directly to an aligned shaft 55. As showninf'liigj, the'slia'ft 5s carries a near 56 which drives a gear -51 carried by the shaft 2 4 oi the sprocket wheel 23 6f the coil ednveytr We. The *sha'ft=5 5 also c'arries a sprocket wheel59 gFigs. 1 and 2) which is connected by a chain =60 "to a. sprocket 'wheel '6! ion -fi l (Fig. "2") which drivesabevel gear carri ed by the 'verticalsha ft -bs of th'e sprocket wheel chair tlie -hookcar'fierize.

The rod bundles or 'sihiilar a'n'nuli to be ha'ndled by the apparatus aretransierredfdnefate V, t llrieffriri t'li'e tioil c'oriveyorI E'tOth'-h'obk carrier t'rarisvees hbri-"zofital rotatable shaft n located -23 has eight teeth, f and there is a E'pulling d'og I9 on each eighth link of the conveyor chain- 2!, thewhe'el 'Hl will' rotate' at-one-half the speed of -th'esprocl'iet "wheel 23. In order to maintain the desired speed relationship, the s'haffifl' of'the "transfer wheel lflthrougha chain and-sprocket connection 150i the proper ratio (Fig.3). Each of the arms" and'13 is of a dual construction, with two identically =shaped-laterally adjacent parts' between which the carrier-hooks 3 I may of the bundle. When' the corresponding pulling "dog f9 reaches "the sprocket-wheel 23, and-starts to-"passdownwa'rdly around the same as shown in Fig. 10, t fwill be withdrawn from its engage- Lm'enFWithtIie DuhHIe, which will then cease its -forward 'znotioh. h'fter-abrief interval the next pusher dog 28 will "engage tlie rear surface of I the bundle we *push it along, "as shown in the case of the bdn'iile BZ in 'l igs. 5 and 6. Atthe samef-time; one-of the suspending arms 72 of the transfer =w-hel "will "move upwardly and forwardly into thecentral opening-o'f the "bundle. When the *pu'sher 'dog 21] starts tc inove down weirdly *a'rou'nd the sprocket wheel 2 3 and out 'of contact with the bundle, as shown in Fig. '7, the supporting arm lt-on the rean'p'ortion of the transfer wheel will :move upwardly beneath the rearportion o'f the bunille a'nd til-t -the bundle forwardly-anddownwardly. 'Th-is will cause the bun'dle 'toslideahe'ad slightly until it engages the rear or trailin'g surface of Zt'he corresponding suspendi arm El as-shown'in'Fig. 8. At this time tIi'e frOnt' portion of the bundle will rest *on the other supporting arm T3,its rear. portion will rest on-the rearf-siipporting arm 7 3, and its two side portions will'rest On-thecurVed plates 1-! at the 'opposite sidesof the transier' wheel. The arm IZ Wh-ich *extendsthmugh the buncile will prevent the upper cenvomtions thereof flDIl'l "sliding rorwar dly and downwardl ymanveto t'h'e lowe1' coiivolutions. Wh'ile the bundle is thus "supported,"the 'rotatirig transfer wheel will carry the bundle with it, as indicated in FiguQQlill'tlI the a'xis of the bu'ndl'e is sub'stantially horizontal andthe bundie is ireely suspended ffr-om 'the arm =12, as sliown in 'Fig. :10. In the meantime the hook 3| has continued tofnioveforwardly. and has passedentirely:through the bundle, in a: position "closely beneath the upper :portion 'of "the bundle. 'As'the parts of'the apparatus'continue to move, and the loaded isu'spending arm .72 travelsbelow the position shown inFig. 10, the bundle B2 -will:beideposited gently con :1 the: 11001: *3 I, which will carry the bundle forwardly-tout :of "the .path or the transfer wheel, as indicated. in Fig.3in connection=withi thefbundleFBI 'nsteach successive bundle arrives near the-izdischargel'end 0f the conveyor l 5; another hook.-=3I wilt-approach the bundle through the groove 36, and the bundle will be handled in the same manner as the preceding bundle. It will be noted that each bundle is handled gently at all times, and that it is well supported throughout the entire operation. There is no likelihood of the convolutions being disarranged, or of the bundle being distorted into an elliptical shape because of sudden jarring thereof.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: r

1. Apparatus for handling rod bundles or similar annuli comprising a sprocket wheel rotatable about a horizontal axis, an endless chain extending around the sprocket wheel and having a substantially horizontal upper portion which travels toward the sprocket wheel as the latter rotates, the chain having dogs along its length, the dogs on the upper portion of the chain engaging the bundles to move the same forwardly along with the chain with the axes of the bundles upright until the bundles are above the sprocket wheel, a transfer wheel rotatable about an axis parallel with the axis of the sprocket wheel, the axis of the transfer wheel being spaced forwardly from the axis of the sprocket wheel, and means to rotate the sprocket wheel and the transfer wheel in the same direction, the transfer wheel including an arm arranged to move upwardly into the central opening of a bundle as the bundle arrives above the sprocket wheel, the transfer wheel serving to swing the bundle forwardly and downwardly while the arm prevents the bundle from sliding forwardly relative to the transfer wheel.

2. Apparatus for handling rod bundles or similar annuli comprising a conveyor arranged to move the bundles forwardly with their axes upright, a hook carrier including a series of forwardly directed hooks movable past the discharge end of the conveyor in the same general direction as the bundles on the conveyor, a wheel located adjacent the discharge end of the conveyor and rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis which extends transversely of the conveyor,

and means to rotate the wheel so that its upper portion will move in the same general direction as the bundles on the conveyor, the wheel including an arm arranged to move upwardly into the central opening of a bundle as it is delivered by the conveyor, the wheel serving to swing the bundle forwardly and downwardly and to place the bundle on one of the hooks,

3. Apparatus for handling rod bundles or similar annuli comprising a sprocket wheel ro tatable about a horizontal axis, an endless chain extending around the sprocket wheel and having a substantially horizontal upper portion which travels toward the sprocket wheel as the latter rotates, the chain having pulling dogs and pusher dogs alternating along its length, the pulling dogs on the upper portion of the chain extending into the central openings in the bundles to pull the same along with the chain, and the pusher dogs engaging the bundles from the rear, as the pulling dogs pass downwardly around the sprocket wheel, to push the bundles still further, a transfer wheel located in front of the sprocket wheel and slightly to one side thereof, the transfer wheel being rotatable about an axis parallel with the axis of the sprocket wheel, the transfer wheel having two diametrically opposite suspending arms alternating with two diametrically opposite supporting arms, means to rotate the sprocket wheel and the transfer Wheel in the same direcv the bundle is being carried by the tion and in such a speedrelatio'nship that as each bundle arrives adjacent to the transfer wheel one of the suspending arms will move upwardly into the central opening of the bundle and the two supporting arms will support the front and rear portions of the bundle as the wheel swings the bundle forwardly and downwardly, and a hook carrier having a series of forwardly directed hooks movable past the transfer wheel in the same general direction as the bundles are moved by the chain, each hook being arranged to receive a bundle from the corresponding suspending arm as the latter moves downwardly past the hook.

4. Apparatus for handling rod bundles or similar annuli comprising a conveyor arranged to move the bundles forwardly with their axes upright, a wheel located adjacent the discharge end of the conveyor and rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis which extends transversely of the conveyor, and means to rotate the wheel so that its upper portion will move in the same general direction as the bundles on the conveyor, the wheel being shaped to receive each bundle as it is delivered by the conveyor and to swing the bundle forwardly and downwardly as its axis approaches a horizontal position, the wheel including an arm arranged to move up wardly into the central opening of a bundle as it is delivered by the conveyor, the wheel also providing surfaces in front of and behind the arm to support the front and rear portions respectively of the bundle as it'is carried forwardly and downwardly by the wheel and as the axis of the bundle approaches a horizontal position.

5. Apparatus for handling rod bundles or similar annuli comprising a conveyor arranged to move the bundles forwardly with their axes upright, a wheel located adjacent the discharge end of the conveyor and rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis which extends transversely of the conveyor, means to rotate the wheel so that its upper portion will move in the same general direction as the bundles on the conveyor, the wheel being shaped to receive each bundle as it is delivered by the conveyor and to swing the bundle forwardly and downwardly as its axis approaches a horizontal position, the wheel being shaped to provide surfaces in front of and behindthe arm to support the front and rear portions respectively of the bundle as it is carried forwardly and downwardly by the wheel and the axis of the bundle approaches a horizontal position, and stationary means provided on opposite sides of the wheel to form supporting surfaces for the lateral portions of the bundle while wheel.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5, in which the said supporting surfaces for the lateral portions of the bundle are convex cylindrical surfaces substantially coaxial with the wheel.

' '7. Apparatus for handling rod bundles or similar'annuli comprising a conveyor arranged to move the bundles forwardly with their axes upright, a wheel located adjacent the discharge end of the conveyor and rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis which extends transversely of the conveyor, and means to rotate the wheel so that its upper portion will move in the same general direction as the bundles on the conveyor, the wheel being shaped to receive each bundle as it is delivered by the conveyor and to swing the bundle forwardly and downwardly as its axis approaches a-horizontal position, said wheel ineluding a plurality of circumferentially-spaced suspending arms alternating with supporting arms, the suspending arms being arranged to move upwardly into the central openings of the bundles as they are delivered successively by the conveyor, and the supporting arms serving to support the front and rear portions respectively of each bundle as it is carried forwardly and downwardly by the wheel, until the bundle is freely suspended from the corresponding suspending arm.

8. Apparatus for handling. rod. bundles or similar annuli comprising a. conveyor arranged to move the bundles forwardly with their axes upright, a hook carrier including a series of forwardly-directed. hooks. movable past; the: discharge end of. the conveyor: in. the. same? general direction as the-bundles on' the conveyor; a wheel located adjacent the: discharge end ofthe conveyor and rotatable about a; substantially hori-- zontal axis whichv extends transversely of the conveyor, and means to rotate the wheel so that its upper portionwill move. the same general direction as. the bundles 0111 the conveyor; the wheelv being shaped: and arranged. to receive the bundles as they are delivered by the conveyor and to place the bundles onthe hooks: of the hook carrier, the wheel including an arm arranged to move upwardly into the; central opening of a bundle as it is delivered by: thc conveyor, the wheel also providing surfacesiin front of and behind the arm to support'the frontan'd rear por'- tions respectively of the bundle as itis carried forwardly and downwardly-by'th'e' wheel" and as the front endv of one book travels forwardly throughthe:centrallopening' in the bundle. 9. Apparatus for: handling rod bundles or similar annuli comprising a? conveyor arranged to move. the bundles; forwardly with theiraxes upright, a hookcarrier including'aaseries of for-'- wardly-directed hooks movable past the discharge end of the: conveyor in the same general direction as the-bundles on the conveyor, .awheel located. adjacent the discharge end of the conveyor and: rotatable; about a substantially horizontal axis: which extends transversely? of the conveyor; and a means 'to rotate the wh'eel so. that its upperportion willmovei in the. same general direction as the bundles on the: conveyorythe wheel including anarm arrangedto' moveup wardly into the-central openingofiaxbundleas it is delivered by the conveyor; thewheelserving to swing the bundle forwardly'and downwardly and to place the bundle mom of the "hooks; the wheel being constructed with twolaterally spaced portions between which the hooks travel while the bundles are placed on the hooks:

10. Apparatus for handling rod bundles or similar annuli comprising a conveyor arranged to movethe bundles forwardly with their-axes upright, a hookcarrier including a: series" of forwardly-directedhooks movable past the dis charge end of-theconveyor in thesame general direction as the bundles on the conveyor; awheel located adjacentthen-discharge: end; of the con- .veyor androtatable about a substantially horifaces substantially; coaxial with the wheel and arranged continuously to support the lateral portions of the bundles as they are carried around by the wheel.

11. Apparatus for handling rod bundles or similar annuli comprising a conveyor arranged to move the bundles forwardly with their axes upright, a hook carrier including a series of for wardly-directed hooks movable past the discharge end of the conveyor in the same general direction as the bundles on the conveyor, a wheel located adjacent the discharge end of the conveyor and rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis which extends transversely of the conveyor, and means to rotate the wheel so that its upper portion will move in the same general direction as the bundles on the conveyor, the wheel including an arm arranged to move upwardly into the central opening of a bundle as it is delivered by the conveyor, the wheel serving to swing the bundle forwardly and downwardly and to place the bundle on one of the hooks, said conveyor including a sprocket wheel located behind the wheel and slightly to one side thereof, the sprocket wheel and the wheel being rotatable in the same direction about parallel axes, and an endless chain extending around the sprocket wheel, the chain having dogs thereon to move the bundles along the conveyor.

12. Apparatus for handling rod bundles or similar annuli comprising a conveyor arranged to move the bundles forwardly with their axes upright, a hook carrier including a series of forwardly-directed hooks movable past the discharge end of the conveyor in the same general direction as thebundles on the conveyor, a Wheel located adjacent the discharge end of the conveyor and rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis which extends transversely of the conveyor, and means to rotate the wheel sothat its upper portion will move in the same general direction as the bundles on the conveyor, the wheel being shaped and arranged to receive the bundles as they are delivered by the conveyor and to place the bundles on the hooks of the hook carrier, said wheel including a' plurality of circumferentially spaced suspending arms alternating with supporting arms, the suspending arms being arranged to move upwardly into' the central openings of the bundles as they are delivered successively by the conveyor, and the supporting arms serving to support the front and rear portions of each bundle'as it is carried forwardly and downwardly by the wheel and as the front endof one hook travels forwardly through the central opening in the bundle.

13; Apparatus for handling rod bundles or similar annuli comprising a conveyor arranged to move the bundles forwardly with their axes upright, a wheel located adjacent the discharge end 'ofthe conveyor and rotatable about a substantially'hoi'izontal axis which extends transversely' of the conveyor, and means to rotate the wheel so that its upper portion will move in the same general direction as'the bundles on the conveyor, the wheel including an arm arranged to" move upwardly into the central opening of a bundle as it is delivered by the conveyor, the wheel serving to swing the bundle forwardly and downwardly-and to cause the axis of the bundle to approach a horizontal position, the wheel being. shaped to-provide surfaces in front of and behindthearm to support the front and rear portions respectively of the bundle as it is carried forwardly and downwardly by the wheel and as zontal axis which extends transversely of the,

conveyor, and means to rotate the wheel so that its upper portion will move in the same general direction as the bundles on the conveyor, the wheel including an arm arranged to move upwardly into the central opening of a bundle as it is delivered by the conveyor, the wheel serving to swing the bundle forwardly and down-v wardly and to place the bundle on one of the hooks, the wheel being shaped to provide surfaces in front of and behind the arm to support the front and rear portions respectively or the bundle as it is carried forwardly and downwardly by the wheel and as the front end of one hook travels forwardly through the central opening in the bundle.

RICHARD W. YOUNG.

ROGER KINNICUTT, J R.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,320,812 Wattleworth Nov. 4, 1919 2,024,513 Diescher Dec. 17, 1935 2,135,890 Gedge Nov. 8, 1938 2,199,061 Young et a1 Apr. 30, 1940 2,301,747 Peterson Nov. 10, 1942 

